Exercising toy



P 19, 1939- H. J. MARLOWE Q 2,173,691

EXERCISING TOY Filed March 9, 1957 Z-Shoets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Harald JMa/z'owe P 19, 1939. H. J. MARLOWE 2,123,691

EXERCISI-NG' TOY Filed March 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Slant 2 INVENTOR A RNEYS Hzmh'JMarhwe' Q Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nxr'zacrsme 'ror Harold J. Marlowe, New Rochelle, N. 12.

Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,799 Claims. (61. 212-55) The present invention relates to an exercising toy of the type commonly designated as a hobby horse.

By the present invention, each and every one I of the various objects of my-prior Patent No.

1,992,127, dated February 19, 1935, is accomplished by a more durable construction, which involves material simplification with the elimination of parts resulting in corresponding reduction in' weight and economy in cost.

The general objects which the present inventionaccomplishes in common with those of my prior patent, are the effect of. the desired complex, co-ordinated realistic movement of head and seat, simulating a galloping action and specifically, an angular movement of the seat concurrently with an advancing and dipping movement of the mounts head in alternations of approach and withdrawal relative to the moving 20. seat.

Further ,in common with the prior'inventlon, the present invention attains the result desired, without resort to racks or pinions or other machine elements, which, aside from their cost are subject, on the onelhand, to becoming jammed,

and on the other hand require lubrication service. Furthermore, the inventions have in common, the feature of ready adjustment in accordance with the weight and height of the child and the stability of the device in use, without rocking or other movement of the baseresting on the floor.

More specific objects of the present invention are to attain the above action bya combination ofparts, devoid of sliding movement, and made 38 up entirely of simple pivotally joined andpivotally supported links and bars, of comparatively light but rigid construction, withsimple and effective means for limiting the movement of the various parts in their two-extreme positions.

40 In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal cross section partly in elevation showing the device in one 45 extreme position of movement.

Fig. 2 is a view. similar to Fig. 1, but showing the device in its other extreme position,

Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive are sections taken on lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, of Fig. 1, respectively.

80 Fig. 'l is a sectional view with parts broken away, taken on line 'I-'I of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings, the device in-. cludes a support base or frame, which in the I preferred embodiment, includes a pair of parallel tendency to tip sideways.

frame boards II and i2, resting at their ends respectively on transverse base angle boards 13 extending a substantial distance from both sides of said frame boards so that said device may rest firmly and solidly upon a floor with no I A wooden spacer sleeve i5 intervenes between the frame boards I I and i2 and is rigidly connected thereto by a cross pin [6 to render the structure more rigid.

A seat supporting bar I! preferably of wood 10 extends between the two frame boards ii and I2, and is pivotally mounted at its lower end on said frame boards by a pin l8. Pronged caps I9,

nailed upon theouter sides of said boards extendlover the endsof pin l8 and serve to hold 15 said pin against endwise movement. The lower portion 2|! of the bar I! is preferably trans versely enlarged, and is held centrally with respect to the two frame boards II and i2 by suitable washers 2| between the sides of said lower 20 portion 20 and the inner sides of said frame boards.

Upon the bar I! is pivotally mounted a seat structure which desirably comprises a wooden seat proper 23, to the lower face of which are 25 rigidly secured by screws or the like, a pair of angle irons 24, defining a pair of spaced parallel depending fins 25. These fins 25 straddle the upper end of the seat supporting bar 11, and are pivotally secured thereto by a cross pin 26.

The device also includes a handle supporting bar 30, which like the seat supporting bar 11 moves in a vertical plane between the frame boards I l and I2, and which is pivoted at its lower end to the bar 11 by a pivot pin 3|. This bar is preferably of composite construction and includes an upper end portion 32 of wood, fashioned and designed to simulate the head of an animal such as a horses head, and having a shank 33 to' which is rigidly connected on opposite sides 40 thereof, by bolts 34 or the like, one end of a pair of opposed metal tie strips 35, the .lower ends of which straddle the bar l1 and are pivotally connected thereto by the pivot pin 31. Extending from opposite sides of the head portion 32 of the bar 30 are handles 36 adapted to be gripped by the child in the operation of the device.

As the seat supporting her I1 is rotated about its pivotal support, the lower pivoted end of the handle supporting bar 30 is simultaneously moved therewith. In order to effect the simultaneous swinging of the bar 30 about its pivotal pin 3! coordinately with the angular movement of the seat supporting'bar. l'l' but in opposite directions,

. there is provided-a link, preferably of wood,

supported to the frame boards I l and I2 by a cross pin ll, the ends of which are preferably concealed by the caps 42 in a manner already described with reference to the pin ll. The rear, or right-hand end of this link 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) extends between the tie strips and is pivotally connected to said strips by a pin 43, so that said link in conjunction with the portion of the handle supporting bar 30 between the pivot pins 3| and 43 forms a toggle.

In order to resist the movementof the various parts of the device toward the extreme position shown in Fig. 2, and to effect the retum movement of said parts towards its other extremeposition shown in Fig. l, the forward end of the link 40 is connected by a counterbalancing coil spring to the lower end of the frame. While as far as certain aspects of the invention areconcerned any one of a variety of spring constructions may be used for this purpose, including that shown in my prior patent above identified, I prefer the specific-construction now to be described; In this specific construction the lower end of the coil spring 50 is anchored to a cross pin 5| supported on the frame boards II and I2, while the upper end in the form 'of a threaded axially extending rod 52 passes through a'cross pin 53 supported on the upper edge of the link 40, and receives a wing nut 54; The forward portion of the link 40 including that portion around the pivot pin 4|, is transversely enlarged, and

is forked to provide a pair of spaced side sections 55 between which the rod 52 extends. The upper edges of these fork sections 55 are provided with two pairs of aligned semicircular notches 55 and 51, adapted to receive the projecting ends of the cross pin 53, the central portion of which is enlarged to form shoulders 49 which abut the inner sides of these fork sections; 55, and which hold said cross pin 53 against axial movement. By means of this arrangement the cross pin 53 may be selectively set in either one of the two pairs of notches 56 and 51 in accordance with the weight of the child. For instance the setting of the cross pin 53 in the notches 55, may be used for children 'of 80 to 100 pounds, while the alternative setting in the notches 51 affords a suitable counterbalance for children weighing in the order of 30 to 50 pounds. In either setting, further adjustment may be made by use of the wing nut 5.

In order to assure a translational movement of the seat 23 parallel to itself as its suport bar I! is moved about its pivot pin l8 and therefore to provide substantial stability to the child in the operation of the device, there is' provided a link 58, preferably formed by a pair of parallel metal bar elements, and pivotally connected at opposite ends at 59 and 60 to the seat fins 25 and the handle supporting bar 30 respectively to form with said bar I! a parallel motion linkage.

The device preferably has a rod 63, forming a pair of foot rests 64, projecting from opposite faces of the frame structure. Preferably three adjustments are afforded in the position of these foot rests, depending on the size of the child. For this purpose three sets of apertures 56, 61 and 68 at different levels are providedin the frame structure, and the foot rest rod 63 is selectively positioned as desired in any one of these sets of apertures. Preferably the foot rest rod 63 is locked in place by a bayonet slot connection, comprising a cross pin 10 through said rod, andsheet metal cap structures 7! secured about each of the apertures 66, 61 and 58 at one side of the frame. each operating stroke of the linkage parts.

, 2,178,691 ,disposed substantially, horizontally and pivotally of said cap structures being provided with a notch 12 in its flange 13 for admitting the projecting end of said cross pin 10. Accordingly the foot rest rod 63 after insertion is turned and pressed so that the projecting end.of the pin 10 after entering the notch 12 is looked under the cap flange I3.

In order to limit the movement of the various parts of the device in either one of the two ex- .treme positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, the sleeve l5 serves as a stop for both positions, and the bar I! and the link 40 are respectively provided with cushion pads or buffers 15 and 16 made of rubber or other suitable resilient material, and adapted to engage said sleeve I 5 in said positions respectively.

While the operation is apparent, it may be briefly noted that the child resting on the seat 23, places his feet on the foot rests 64, grasps the handle bars 36, and performs an up and down movement. On each downward movement, the seat supporting bar I! moves to the position shown in Fig. 2 against the resistance of the coil spring 50, which is stressed in that operation.

- At the same time the head 32 is caused to move 50 contracts, and causes the rising angular movement of the two bars I1 and 30 towards each other into the position shown in Fig. 2 Although in Fig. 1 the bar H, in normal position, is shown spaced fromthe stop 15, in tighter adjustments of the coil spring 50, said bar I! in its normal position may actually. abut said stop. In.any case during the operation of the device, the inertia of the spring 50 in its return contracting movement will cause the bar I! to pass beyond the normal position shown in Fig. land into engagement with the stop I5. The use of cushion pads I5 and 16 on the bar I! and link 40 respectively serves to dampen the shock at the end of each The use of a seat supporting bar pivotally supported on the lower portion of the frame structure, and normally extending upwardly at a comparatively sharp angle, as shown in Fig. 1, will afford a comparatively wide angular movement of said bar during operations, and by virtue'of the parallel motion linkage the seat will not tilt during this angular movement and will not therefor unbalance the child.

The device. thus affords desirable alternations of applied force in the downward stroke, and of relaxation in the spring actuated return movement. The effect of the advancing and dipping movement of the head 32 as the seat is simultaneously depressed and moved rearwardly through a comparatively wide angle, and the retracting rising movement of the head as the seat simultaneously rises and moves forwardly, is

- specially intriguing, and affords an amusing riding sensation. The realistic action of the device simulating the galloping movement of a horse is not only'a source of pleasure to the child, but at the same time will provide a healthful and exhilarating form of exercise which is well within the physical capacity of the child.

The device has no mechanian apt to jam or get out of, order, and operates without the need for attention in lubrication or otherwise. Fun thermore no cam slots or grooves are provided which would weaken the frame structure, which would add to the expense of the device, and which would mar its ornamental appearance. Also by eliminating the use of sliding parts and sliding connections, the wear on the device is minimized, the noises usually attending the sliding movement of said parts is eliminated, and the possibility of the child being pinched or his clothing being damaged by said sliding parts or connections is obviated.

It is understood that the device could be embellished by concealing the links with more of the outline of the animal, and by applying a tail, saddle, and other accoutrements, well within the range of mechanical skill and therefore not specifically shown.

The device also lends itself for adaptation in other animal embodiments, and is not limited in its use to the home or play-yard, but could to advantage be used on merry-go-rounds, or similar devices at amusement parks or picnic grounds.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practicaluse.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A hobby horse comprising a frame structure, a seat, a head, means interlinking said seat and said head with respect to said frame structure to cause them to move in generally opposed direction, and including a link pivotally supported on said frame structure, and forked at one end, a cross pin seated, on the upper edge of the separated fork sections of said link, a spring anchored at one end to said frame structure and passing at its other end through said cross pin, and an adjusting member threaded to said latter spring end for selectively adjusting the tension of said spring, said spring serving to retain said head and said seat in one extreme position and resisting displacement therefrom.

2. An apparatus of the class described including a frame structure, a seat, a handle, means interlinking said seat and said handle with respect to said frame structure to cause them to move in generally opposed direction between two extreme positions, and a single stop fixed to said frame'structure, and adapted to be engaged by portions of said means in both of said extreme positions to limit further movement beyond said positions.

3. An apparatus of the class described including a frame structure, a seat supporting bar pivotally supported on said structure, a handle supporting bar pivoted to said seat supporting bar, a link pivotally supported on said frame structure and pivotally connected to said handle supporting bar, whereby said bars are simultaneously moved in generally opposed direction between two extreme positions, and a single stop fixed to said frame structure and adapted to be engaged by said link in one extreme position of said bars and to be engaged by said seat supporting bar in the other extreme position.

4. An apparatus of the class described including 'a pair of frame boards, a seat, a handle, a linkage extending between said frame boards, supported on said frame boards, and interconnecting said seat and said handle to cause them to move in generally opposed direction between two extreme positions, a single stop fixed between said frame boards and adapted to engage said linkage in both of said extreme positions for lim-' iting the movement of said seat and said handle beyond said positions, and resilient means for dampening the shock resulting from the engagement of said linkage with said stop.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a frame structure, a seat, a seat supporting bar pivotally connected atone'end to said seat and pivotally supported to said frame structure near its other end, a handle supporting bar pivotally connected near one end to said seat supporting bar, linkage means for causing said bars to move in generally opposite directions, and a substantially straight link extending substantially parallel and closely adjacent to said seat supporting bar, and pivotally connected near its opposite ends to said seat and to said handle supporting bar respectively, and forming with said seat supporting bar a parallel linkage motion for maintaining said seat at a substantially constant inclination with respect to the horizontal.

HAROLD J. MARLOWE. 

